Speech of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III

Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City
21 May 2018

In 1988, I was elected as Vice Mayor of Quezon City and became the presiding officer of its Council. Inherent in the position is being the chairman of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council which inflamed in me my advocacy against illegal drugs.

Lumipas ang tatlong dekada, at tinitiyak ko sa inyo, na hindi ko inaasahan ang mga pangyayari sa araw na ito. Ni sa panaginip ay hindi sumagi sa aking isipan na ako ay maluluklok bilang Pangulo ng Senado. Napakatayog ng mga dating personalidad na nanungkulan bilang Senate President, magmula kay President Manuel Luis Quezon, hanggang sa ating Senate President Aquilino "KOKO" Pimentel III. Sa bisa lamang ng prinsipyo ng demokrasya na ang kagustuhan ng nakararami ang siyang mananaig, ay narito ako ngayon na tinatanggap ang hamon na inyong iniatas sa akin bilang Pangulo ng Senado.

I am deeply humbled and sincerely grateful to the Almighty Father and to my fellow senators who reposed their trust and confidence in me and in my capability to lead this august chamber at this critical and challenging time.

I hereby pledge to continue in helping the passage of laws that will be beneficial to the country and to every Filipino, and to continue as well the diligence and dedication of Senator Koko Pimentel for being the principal sponsor or principal author of landmark laws, among others:

• RA10932- Anti-Hospital Deposit Law

• RA 10645 - Expanded Senior Citizens Act

• RA 10867- NBI Modernization

• RA 10366 – Electoral Processes Accessibility Act

To my colleagues and to the Filipino people, I am committed to do my very best and I am confident that I have in my background the template of nine (9) other Senate Presidents that I have served --- from Senate President Neptali Gonzales, Ed Angara, Ernie Maceda, Marcelo Fernan, Blas Ople, Frank Drilon, Nene Pimentel, Juan Ponce Enrile and Koko Pimentel.

Thus, I am guided by Proverbs 3:6, “In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

Bilang pangwakas, aking iniaalay ang karangalang handog ninyo sa akin sa ala-ala ng aking lolo, Senador Vicente Yap Sotto ng Cebu, gayon din sa kanyang kapatid na Senador Filemon Sotto ng Cebu, sa aking ama na si Marcelino Sotto, Sr., sa aking inang Herminia Castelo Sotto ng Nueva Ecija, sa aking maybahay na si Helen, mga anak at mga apo, at sa kinabukasan ng bansang Pilipinas.

Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.